Spotlight on Izzi Hughes
Local Music Makers
By Peggy Ratusz
Photo by Rachel Pressley
Dedication, devotion and a passion for interpreting “other people’s songs” is what drives vocalist, guitarist, producer, radio personality and booking agent, Izzi Hughes.
Her determination to pursue short and long term goals and a natural ability to work through challenges, Hughes is well on her way to becoming an even more prominent mover, shaker and decision maker in WNC.
She divides her seemingly unceasing energy between many endeavors simultaneously. The old soul inside her comes through with great reverence when she’s on stage performing and belting out her favorite songs from early rock and soul to current pop tunes, her common sense and attention to detail drives her Hummingbird Entertainment Booking & Social Media Marketing business and her sense of humor, warmth, friendliness and spontaneity shine on the weekly radio show she co-hosts “Local Artist Showcase” with Steve DuRose on WTZQ 95.3 every Friday at 5pm.
A Hendersonville, NC native, Izzi explains her start: “I started playing guitar when I was nine years old. I’d been taking dance lessons and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would and wasn’t as good at it as I wanted to be.
When I told my mom I didn’t want to do the dance lessons any more, she asked me what I wanted to do outside of school. At the time my best friend was learning to play the guitar so I told her I wanted a guitar and to start taking lessons. Ever since then, it’s stuck!”
Flat Rock Playhouse was her home away from home when she was a preteen, and it’s there that she took acting and music classes landing roles in Peter Pan and Tom Sawyer. Eventually her parents encouraged her to focus on either acting or music. In the end, music won out.
She began taking voice and guitar lessons at the Jim Beaver School of Music. After listening in on one of her lessons, Jim subsequently recommended to her parents that she join his Rock Band Program where he was in the midst of choosing players for a new band he was putting together consisting of current students. She readily accepted the invitation and as she says, “the rest is history!”
‘Calculated Error’ was the name the kids in the band chose to go by and she started gigging with them at the tender age of twelve. “I had to learn very quickly how to be out front and command a stage because we were performing for all kinds of prestigious events like Apple Festival, Relay for Life, we played on the WLOS Television morning show and bars like The Dugout; it felt like baptism by fire.”
After 4 ½ years of performing with the Rock Band program band, all the players but Izzi aged out and went off to college, going their separate ways. Not one to be intimidated by anything even resembling an obstacle, Izzi lost no time and began to pursue solo gigs in Hendersonville and Asheville.
“The first performance opportunity that launched me straight into the music community was when I took first place in Wild Wing Café’s contest called ‘The Acoustic Throw Down.’ I won some money and put it all towards equipment. I fortunately met a lot of other local prominent and in particular young female singer songwriters like Hope Griffin and Ashley Heath.
"I started to network and inevitably Hope asked me to open for one of her shows at Black Bear Coffee. Other musicians who took me under their wing really helped in the beginning when I was trying to make a name for myself and get my foot in the door at several venues.
"My parents too, have been incredibly supportive, especially my dad and especially in those early years. He took me to bars I would not have been able to get into by myself; he was my roadie, my chauffeur.”
Hope helped her land her first booking at St. Paul Winery by introducing her to the owner and letting her sit in. She’s been in rotation there ever since, playing often alongside “best guitarist” recipient 2023, Eric Congdon as well as the popular basement bar and restaurant in downtown Hendersonville called The Poe House.
Graduating from Belmont University in 2022 with a degree in Music Business and Production, she spent two years working on Music Row in Nashville as a booking agent representative.
The experience enabled Hughes to explore the possibility of starting her own entertainment and music social media marketing business which is exactly what she did when she returned to the mountains.
Hummingbird Entertainment, LLC is the entity where the mission is for her to take on the duties of scheduling bands and entertainment instead of bar and restaurant managers having to take time out of their busy schedules to worry about that aspect of their business.
With a growing roster of clients, Izzi’s skill set is a perfect fit and she’s becoming a more sought-after booking guru.
And her full circle moment has already occurred at the ripe young age of twenty-four. She’s gotten the band back together! Calculated Error has reunited now after 10 years and is performing at venues such as Oklawaha Brewing and Appalachian Ridge Cidery in Hendersonville, Green River Eddy’s Taproom in Saluda, Flat Rock Cider Works and more.
Bassist and Backing Vocals: Walker Astin, Guitarist and Backing Vocals: Ronnie Monroe, Drummer: Jacob Whiteside. Visit their Facebook page to keep up with where they play and when: https://www.facebook.com/CalculatedErrorBand
Though she’s proficient at everything she sets her mind to do, there’s no greater passion for Izzi than singing. With a capable, expressive, convincing set of pipes, it’s really no wonder at all.
Peggy’s August Performance Schedule
Thurs Aug 1st The River Arts District Brewing Company with Jonathan Pearlman & Mr. Jimmy
Sat Aug 3rd Hosting the AVL Festival’s official Invitational Blues Jam at One World West, 5pm-8pm with Kelly Jones, Jonathan Pearlman, Bob Songster & Jay Hoots
Sun Aug 4th Diana Wortham Theater for AVL Fest, Peggy Ratusz & Daddy LongLegs featuring Jonathan Pearlman, Kelly Jones, Taylor Pierson, Zack Page & Jay Hoots, 2pm-3pm
Thurs Aug 8th Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack South with
Kelly Jones, 6:30pm-8:30pm
Sat Aug 10th Souther Williams Winery, Fletcher, NC with
Kelly Jones, 2pm-5pm
Fri Aug 16th Birthday Show at Records in the RAD with
Peggy Ratusz & Daddy LongLegs band, 6pm-8pm
Sat Aug 17th Southern Appalachian Brewery with
Jonathan Pearlman, Zack Page & Russ Wilson
Thurs Aug 22nd The Joint Next Door Singer Songwriter Showcase 7pm-9pm
Fri Aug 23rd Highland Brewing Downtown with Kelly Jones, 6pm-8pm
Sun Aug 25th Southern Appalachian Brewery Sunday Funday with Adam Rose & Bob Songster, 4pm-6pm
Thurs Aug 29th Catawba Brewing South Slope with
The Daddy LongLegs Band, 6pm-9pm
Sat Aug 30th Southern Appalachian Brewery with all female Blues/Jazz/Pop band Bit O’ Honey featuring Beth Heinberg, Nancy Asch and Janet DelReal
Peggy Ratusz is a vocal coach,
song interpreter, and songwriter.
For vocal coaching email her at
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